INKspirations!

 Hello there!  Thanks for stopping by!  I finished up today’s card inspired from this week’s sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.   To play along, click the link ( HERE) This is a fantastic sketch that will frame any small image or die cut.  This will be one I will be coming back to often! For my card, I began by embossing a piece of Seaside Spray cardstock (SU) with an older Embosding folder (Possibly - Darice Damask swirls - gifted from my Mom) 4 x 5 1/4in. The card base was finished with border of Misty Moonlight cardstock 1/8th larger in length and width. Two small rectangles were cut to roughly 2 1/2 x 3 inches in the same colors.   The lighter Seasside spray piece was cut with a wavy border die to look like a hill.  The snow man from Pretty Pink Posh is from the Holiday Signs - stamp and die set (SHOP HERE) I stamped in Versafine onyx black ink and then colored with markers.  I cut the stamped image, plus two additional silhouettes to stack fo...

 Hi there!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I just received a surprise from my Sister in Law in the mail yesterday.   Wanna guess what it was? 🤩 (SHOP HERE) I was so excited, I had to play around with my new stamp set.   Today’s card was created from this week’s sketch from Atlantic Hearts, Sketch 702. To play along, click the link ( HERE ) For my card, I used an older piece of Concord and 9th Specialty Holiday Paper.   I trimmed the base to 4 x 5 1/4in. Next, I stamped the Snoopy and Woodstock image and colored with a combination of Tombow classic colors, and Stampin Up’s Coastal Cabana for the background, and Daffodil Delight for the birds. Wink of Stella was added to the snow and trim on Snoopy’s hat. The image was cut from Simon Says Stamp A2 Frames.  I cut  3 additional frame outlines in Poppy Parade cardstock (SU). A vellum scrap circle was added to the corner and the die cut sentiment was added from Concord and 9th’s Winter Wonderland Die...

 Hello!  I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weekend weather.   I had so much fun with the CAS sketch this week, I made two!  To join in on the fun, click the link:  (HERE) It’s amazing how changing layers and colors can give such a different look.  Card 1: For the first card, I knew I wanted to use the Love and Joy circle die from - Concord and 9th (retired).  The plaid circles were cut from Stampin Up’s Nature’s Spotlight - Die set.   The gold  from SSS - Etched Berry branch was layered underneath the Love and Joy circle.   Card 2: While the ideas were flowing, I grabbed some older bell dies and the Simon Says Stamp - Holiday Ornaments Set.  The bell pieces were left over, so I simply glued a black piece of cardstock to the back. A black circle was cut and the “Jingle all the way” sentiment was added in Craft White ink.   The stars were also left over cut outs from other bells!  The 3 - circles were framed and matted ...

Greetings!  How about a grumpy cat to bring some joy to your holidays this year? 🤣.  This card was designed using this month’s sketch at Build Your Holiday Card Stash - #74 For my card, I used the Bagged and Bothered - stamp from Unity. (SHOP HERE) I stamped two images, and combined them with paper piecing, using Versafine - Onyx Black ink for the printed bag, and SU - Early Espresso Ink for the outline of the cat. The cat was stamped on multi-media paper, and I layered watercolors with watercolor pencils and fine tip markers. White acrylic paint was used for highlights using a small rounded ball stylus tool for rock painting.  (Perfect dots every time!) For the eyes, I used a SU - Pool Party Marker The Bag was distress with a sponge and Crumbcake Ink (SU), and embellished with embroidery floss for the handle and a small red velvet bow. (DEI - crafts for velvet paper) The sentiment is also from Unity - from a Christmas themed ephemera pack.   Other Accessories: SU -...

Greetings!  I have been wanting to watercolor with this stamp for a little while, and had my chance this morning.  This stamp is from Unity, called Lying in a Manger. I started with a piece of watercoloring paper and stamped the manger in Dusty Durango Ink (SU). I loosely brushed in Misty Moonlight ink with a 1 inch paintbrush.   I sponged Rococo Rose around the manger and then splattered clean water around the manger.   The excess drops were dabbed away to lift color to look like a night time sky. I used watercoloring pencils to color baby Jesus and used a fine tip marker to add a few sketchy lines to the hair, swaddling and manger. While the paper was damp, I embossed with Subtle Impressions Embossing Folder (SU). I used Unity’s - Everlasting Joy Die to cut the manger out.  I then used white cardstock to cut and stack  3 - “Joy’s.”   A gold foil star was added from Stampin Up’s Night in Bethlehem.  The sentiment on the inside reads “Blessings fo...

 Greetings!  I am tucking cards away before the snow flies!  I usually make holiday cards regularly, with other occasions sprinkled in throughout the year. Tonight’s card looks almost exactly like a pair of my younger son’s dinosaur slippers, and thought this would make a fun Christmas card for a guy.  These cute dies are the Cozy Toes set - from Spellbinders.  For my card, I started with the patterned paper to make the pajamas.  Unity’s - A Dash of Christmas had several papers with great patterns to make a snazzy pair of pj’s.   For the slippers, I used Lawn Fawn’s pastel dotted paper, and sponged Always Artichoke to add a little shading and dimension.  The claws were made from silver cardstock scrap (Michael’s). To mount the legs, I used a piece of Poppy Parade cardstock roughly 1 7/8 x 4.   The sentiment from Stampin Up’s - Christmas Gleaming set was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink and trimmed with detail scissors.  The background...

 Hello! Today’s challenge from Sunday Stamps blog, is “down the middle.” To join, along, click the link  (HERE) For my card, I decided to use “Love You Dearly” die set from JB Hobbies.   I assembled the buck in a slightly darker shade of scrap cardstock, and gave him a silver bell.  The doe was made from a scrap of kraft cardstock.   I used a painting tool with a small metal ball tip to dot the eyes.  Black acrylic paint was used. I used the “Happy Holidays”  sentiment from the Greetery called Little Linked Labels, in Real Red ink (SU).  A small heart from Alex Syberia dies was used to anchor the small banner in place.  The deer were framed with a strip of Cotton Candy cardstock from Simon Says Stamp, and the plaid DSP is called Peaceful Prints from Stampin Up. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today was a great day to relax and play in the craft room!  I have been playing Taxi service for my two boys jobs/activites this week, so I looked forward to the break!  For my card, I used some paper with a reindeer pattern from a Stampin Up Sale a Bration bonus.  Using the Deer Builder (SU), I layered over the plaid banner. The sentiment and die are from Concord and 9th’s - Season’s Greetings Banner Set, in Real Red ink (SU). A snow flake was cut from the coordinating CC&9 set with red foil cardstock, and a red rhinestone for an accent. The card base was also trimmed in a red foil border.  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from Atlantic Hearts Sketch #686 this week, with the sentiment taking center stage in the card front.  To play along, click the link  (HERE) I used this fun die from - A Pocket Full of Sunshine and cut the letters from Poppy Parade card stock  (SU). I used the negative piece of card-stock as a template for alignment and spacing. The back ground was made from a snow cover plate die from Gina Marie Designs (wholesalecrafting supplies.com). I cut a second background with silver cardstock, and used the snow pieces to inlay against the white.  I have lots of dots and letters in my table at the moment…😆 I tried to find a stamp that could be placed on or around the prominent sentiment, and this snowman from SSS - called Wrapped in scarves was the perfect fit. He was colored with markers and embellished with a Wink of Stella pen. I added an action wobbler for movement and dimension.  Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello!  I had a great tutorial that arrived in my inbox today from Julie  Baca - of Sunny Day Stamping. Her video shows a great gift card holder with a belly band. My card today uses the measurements from this tutorial,  HERE I love how this card format works with any occasion!  For my card, I decided to stock up on a Christmas theme, because these come on handy!  I used the stamped image for the belly band and stamped the sentiment on the inside panel.   Card Challenges: Classic Design Challenge #04 (Furry Friends) -  (LINK HERE) Merry Little Christmas Challenge #68 -  LINK HERE Supplies: I used Ho-Ho Holiday Check in from Unity Stamps, and Unity’s Scandinavian Holiday Paper. Cardstock: Stampin Up - True Thyme Ink: Versa Fine Onyx Black Acessories- Wink of Stella Dies- Simon Says Stamp Basic Shapes - nesting squares

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired by Jane’s design at AAA Card Challenges. To join the fun, click the link  (HERE) Here is Jane’s design This card is also added to the Spring into Christmas Linky Party for - Build Your Holiday Card Stash  To play along, click the link  (HERE) I mixed things up a bit, and went in a holiday vibe.  I used a strip of plaid paper, and trimmed it down to 1 1/2 inches x 5 1/4 inches.  I used the stamp and coordinating die from Concord and 9th called Stocking and Stitch set. I stamped in Real Red Ink - (SU), and then used the dies to add felt details. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

Hello! I had fun creating this card for you today.   Sometimes the absence of color can be so elegant, that I pulled some different elements together to create this card.   This card is a 5in. x 5in. square card. I used a sheet of specialty vellum paper with snowflakes, as the main background.  I used fine tipped glue to add dots on the back of the velvet snowflakes to adhere to a sheet of white paper with silver dots. The panel was matted with a metallic silver frame. (Recollections) I stacked 3-rounded corner die cuts together in the lower right corner.  I Then layered a small white shimmer snow flake and a medium snowflake from Snowflake Wishes - SU. “Let it Snow” - (Tim Holtz Cozy Christmas) was stamped directly onto the panel in Smokey Slate Ink - (SU). The snow flake was embellished with an opalite gem (SU). This card is for these challenges: Inkspirational #365 - Sketch  Join the Challenge; (HERE) 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - “All White” To join the chal...

 Hello!  I’m sharing a card today for the Spring Into Christmas Party , Hosted by Build Your Holiday Card Stash. To join in on the fun, click the link (HERE) For my card, I let the paper be the focus of the card design.  I chose Unity’s - Where Winters Lingers  paper pack.   I started by cutting the postage die cut from Always Artichoke Paper, and then trimming the poinsettias to fit inside. (Unity Postage Die Set) For the card base, I trimmed a coordinating piece of patterned paper to 4 x 5 1/4 inches.  I used scissors to roughen the edges and then added distressing with Early Espresso Ink along the edges. A scrap piece of metallic gold foil cardstock to the center, and then added the focal point on top. A small Joy sentiment from Honey Bee Stamps - Gallery Wall was stamped in Early Espresso Ink, and punched with a 1 inch circle punch from EK Success. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hi there!  Today’s card is inspired by the Retro Rubber Challenge #268.  To play along, click the link  (HERE) I was looking forward to shopping through my wood block stamps and decided on Bearing Gifts of Christmas Cheer from Stampin Up.   This card is an A2 top folded card. I turned the sketch vertically, to better accommodate my stamp and sentiment. For my card, I stamped onto a scrap of white card-stock with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I colored with water soluble markers and fussy cut.  I used The red and blue patterned paper from Stampin Up’s One Horse Open Sleigh DSP, and cut with the Labels A Glow oblong shaped die.   The sentiment is from Elegant Pines stamp set (SU). I used the long label from the Labels A Glow die set, with Night of Navy Ink (SU). I glued the labels onto a card base measuring 3 3/4 x 5. I centered the bear in the middle and used the sentiment underneath as an anchor. Thanks for stopping by! - Valerie Kaye

 Hello! Today’s card is inspired from the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches #727. To play along, click the link  (HERE) When I looked at this card, I visualized a snow globe.  So, I grabbed Concord and 9th’s - Winter Wonderland stamp and die set. I stamped the “Let It Snow” background in Starry sky ink (SU), then cut with a small arch nesting die.   Assembling the car was next.   I used scraps in Stampin Up: Poppy Parade, Seaside Spray, Basic Black, Emerald Envy and Holographic Foil (Recollections). The wood trim was my favorite detail! I used kraft to cut the part, then embossed with a wood grain embossing folder.  A sponge added a little brown ink to bring the pattern out.  The assembled card and background were adhered together and attached to a white glimmer panel and layered on a Starry Sky mat.   To follow the sketch, candy canes were stamped in Poppy Parade ink, traced with a fine tipped Cherry Cobbler pen and fussy cut.  Thank...

 Hello!  This card was created from Atlantic Hearts Sketch #672. To play along, click  (HERE) I determined I am paper trimming challenged, but I love the clean lines with the different patterns of paper.  😆  I love this design because this works well with paper packs.  You do not need a lot of tools to make this card.  If you are limited on supplies this card would also look great with a circle from a punch.  My panel is about 3 3/4 x 5 inches  Here are my strip measurements appx.: (in.) Top: ( 2 ) - 1 3/4 x 2 Center: (1) - 1 - 3/4 x 3 1/2  Bottom Left: (1) - 1 7/16 x 1 1/2 Bottom Right: (1) - 1 x 1/2 I used paper from Unity Stamps called Nature’s Noel.  I thought it was an especially pretty pack of papers.   I chose two dark prints and one light print to follow the sketch.  I stamped in Versamark and die cut Seasons Greetings from Concord and 9th  Season’s Greetings Bundle.  The Gold foil bow was left over, and...

 Hello!  I’m having so much fun with the Friends of Unity Sketch, I made a few more cards!   For This card, I started by taking the arch die and cutting a window through a panel to make my own stencil.   I ink blended Crumb Cake ink (SU).  I stamped through the window in Early Espresso (SU), with Unity’s Stories From the Cabin stamp.  (SHOP HERE) I cut the panel and added white acrylic ink with water to create smoke and snow.   A Early Espresso fine tip pen is was added to add shadows to the creek bed, roof line and branches.  For the panel behind, I used the pines from the Winter Blessings stamp set using Eucalyptus pigment ink (Amuse).  Torn vellum was added, and attached to an embossed panel with a pine tree embossing folder (Winterly Trees - SU). A rose gold foil arch was used to frame the cabin (SSS) (SHOP HERE) Card #2: Using the stamp and embosding folder, I changed up the center strip using Copper Clay cardstock, and sponged with whit...

Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from Freshly Made Sketches #724.  To play along, click the link  (HERE) For this card, I rotated the sketch to make a top folding A2 sized card. I chose the dies and embosding folder from Stampin Up called Peaceful Greenery, and Peace on Earth Stamp and Die set (2025).    The red velvet paper from DEI was already left over from a previous project.  I was experimenting at the time embosssing on velvet paper. The window was die cut first, then embossed.   The velvet panel was attached to a gold foil panel (Recollections Gold Foil Cardstock), and the cream frame (SSS Cream Heavyweight cardstock). The peace die from Altenew was added to the center, then the Doves were added to each corner.  The doves were cut from a piece of 12 x 12 white shimmer scrapbook sheet from Michael’s. The gold foil branches were tucked around the top corner dove, and the smaller branch was added onto the lower corner dove.   That finishe...

Hello!    Today’s card is created from this month’s sketch at Build Your Holiday Card Stash - Sketch #66. I came across a great artist on Facebook.  Her page is Whimsical Inklings by Cheryl.   You can find her page  (HERE) She often has many cute, downloadable images.  I printed this adorable gingerbread from Cheryl’s page on Canson Mixed Media paper.  I finally had success finding a weight that worked with my printer.   I sized and printed the gingerbread using Avery Label templates.  This is the easiest way I find sizing digital images. I chose a rectangular label 3 x 4 inches, and load from my camera gallery.  The perk is that each image is copied to fit multiple images to a page.   Since the printer is an ink jet, I was very careful not to touch the black outline, using Derwent Inktense pencils and an aqua pen.  I added a little prismacolor pencil and distressed Early Espresso along the edge for a baked look.   I used ...

 Hello!  Today’s card is inspired from this month’s challenge at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers - Facebook Group. Each month, Crystal changes up the sketch layout and you can get a head start on next year’s cards!    For this card, I pulled out my skunk stamp from Unity called “Whiff of Christmas Cheer”  Shop ( HERE ) This is a side folding A2 sized card on craft cardstock (Recollections)  I had a scrap from Unity’s “Love is in the Air” Paper Pack, and used a partial circle die to cut the patterned paper.  (SHOP HERE) On a piece of mixed media paper, I stamped this sweet little skunk in Versa Fine - Onyx Black ink.   I added a little shading around the eyes and ears, and candy cane and ears were colored in also.   The sentiment was stamped on a strip using a stamp platform, and a small heart was punched to anchor into place.   A small bow was added in red and white baker’s twine to the candy cane. Thanks for stopping by! -  Val...